Senior Public Information Officer

1 Utah Transit Authority; United States; On-site; USD 102,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, and

Disability insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Free transit passes

Job summary

Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is seeking a Senior Public Information Officer to lead media relations, public storytelling, and strategic communications. You will coordinate proactive media plans, serve as a primary press liaison, and supervise staff across social media and outreach.

Build relationships with reporters and editorial boards while guiding crisis communications and public information during events and incidents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, journalism, or communications.
• Eight (8) years related work experience with demonstrated competency in public relations with an extensive media relations background including two (2) years in a supervisory role.
• Experience in a public or government organization a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate UTA's media relations and public storytelling program and serve as the primary media relations strategist and press liaison.
• Supervise social media and public story mining staff and set strategy across education, events, news, data, incidents, and engagement.
• Develop and execute strategic, proactive media plans and manage information distribution to news media for events, announcements, activities, campaigns, and education.
• Write and edit press advisories, pitches, releases, talking points, social posts, op-eds, messaging documents, scripts, and other materials for media response.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the news media and interact with reporters, editors, photographers, and editorial boards.

Skills

Media relations

Public storytelling

AP Style

Verbal & written comms

Crisis communications

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or related field

Job description

Help shape the story of public transportation in Utah. As a key member of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) communications team, you'll lead media relations, public relations, and strategic communications that shape how the public sees, understands, and engages with UTA. From developing proactive media strategies and building strong relationships with news outlets to navigating breaking news, leading crisis communications, and uncovering compelling stories, you'll bring UTA's people, services, and community impact into the spotlight.

In this role, you'll bring together strategic leadership, media expertise, and compelling storytelling to keep the public informed, engaged, and connected to UTA's mission.

Role Overview

As the Senior Public Information Officer, you will:

• Coordinate Utah Transit Authority (UTA)'s media relations and public storytelling program and serve as UTA's primary media relations strategist and press liaison.
• Supervise social media and organic public story mining staff and set strategy related to education, events, news, data, incidents, and engagement across public communications channels.
• Develop and execute strategic, proactive media plans and manage the distribution of information to the news media in support of events, announcements, activities, campaigns, education, and issues.
• Write and edit press advisories, pitches, releases, talking points, social posts, op-eds, messaging documents, scripts, press event plans, stories, and other materials for proactive and reactive media response.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the news media.
• Interact with reporters, editors, photographers, editorial boards, and other members of the news media for disseminating information and publicity.
• Act as a source of public information for scheduled and unscheduled events, stories, or challenging, emotional, and sensitive crises.
• Work with the agency's Communications Director, communications and social media staff, government relations, executive team, UTA Police, and department subject matter experts to identify emerging media issues.
• Work with the Communications Director, executive staff, and agency management in developing strategy, messaging, and responding to media queries.
• Gather data and clipping reports to gauge public sentiment via media and social media engagement.
• Develop and maintain crisis communications response plans.
• Serve as UTA spokesperson, and train and prep subject matter experts to do media interviews, testimony, editorial visits, presentations, and other public appearances that may have media presence.
• Carry a highly trusted role in an actively changing environment, seeking opportunities to strengthen the public perception of the value of transit and UTA's operations and management.
• Supervise staff by developing goals, monitoring progress, coaching and evaluating performance.
• Coordinate with Incident Communications Specialist team on public response to incidents and general questions over social media platforms.
• This job is not eligible for telework. Requires regular and predictable attendance during set daytime hours Monday through Friday in the Salt Lake City UTA Frontlines Headquarters or in the field along UTA's service area. Requires media on-call availability that could respond during evenings, holidays, and weekends.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or related field.

Experience

• Eight (8) years related work experience with demonstrated competency in public relations with an extensive media relations background including two (2) years in a supervisory role.
• Professional experience must include at least two (2) years in a non-media outlet or outside of a newsroom or media organization.
• Experience in a public or government organization a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Leadership, mentorship, and an ability to motivate and inspire subordinates.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Conflict Resolution.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with excellent grammar and Associated Press Style.
• Develop a proactive media strategy.
• Build rapport with various groups of people.
• Handle pressure, negative attention, emotional subjects, confidential information, and meet deadlines.

UTA Competencies

• Business Acumen - Maintaining an up-to-date understanding of the broader issues affecting field of expertise and organization.
• Managerial Courage - Standing strong in the face of adversity and taking necessary risk to achieve results.
• Change Management - Dealing comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Dealing constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
• Communicates Effectively - Creating an open environment in which thoughts are expressed freely and information flows easily.
• Decision Making - Making sound decisions that consider multiple options, seeking input from others; reaching good decisions in a timely manner.
• Drives Results - Fostering a strong bottom-line orientation; accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks; exceeding goals successfully; pushing self and others to achieve results.

Location and Working Hours

This job requires regular and predictable attendance. This job is not eligible for telework and requires presence Monday through Friday in the Salt Lake City UTA Frontlines Headquarters or in the field along UTA's service area. Requires media on-call availability that could respond during evenings, holidays, and weekends.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $102,300.00 or more, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts.
• Choice between Traditional Co-Pay or High Deductible Health Plans for medical coverage.
• HSA with company match available to employees enrolled in the HDHP.
• Benefit plans include coverage for domestic partners (eligibility affidavit required for coverage).
• Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost to employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children.
• 22 days of accrued paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick days), which increases with tenure at UTA.
• 10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per year.
• Retirement options - Pension Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching.
• Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course of study must be approved prior to enrollment.
• Training, development, and career advancement opportunities.
• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment).
• Free transit passes for employees, their spouses, and their dependent children.
• Employee assistance program - includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.
• UTA Well - a comprehensive wellness program designed to support employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
• Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to VASA Fitness and EoS Fitness.
• Discounted cell phone plans with T-Mobile.
• Pet insurance plan options (tailored plan coverage based on pet's health and needs).

Equal Opportunity

PM21 Utah Transit Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, covered veterans, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Applicants needing an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process should contact UTA Human Resources at 801-287-2324. A minimum of two work days' notice prior to the need for the accommodation is required.

Other Disclosures

Utah Transit Authority is a drug-free workplace, subject to federal drug and alcohol testing regulations under 49 CFR Part 40, 655, and 219. All offers for employment are contingent upon a successful pre-employment drug test. If a pre-employment test returns a non-negative result, an application for employment may be rejected. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident testing for drug and alcohol use. All safety sensitive employees are subject to random testing for drug and alcohol use.

Company Culture

We grow together. We succeed together. We are UTA, together. A career with UTA offers a unique opportunity to make a difference in our communities while building a purposeful and rewarding career.